Vacuum tube lamp support



Aug. 25, 1931. R. c. SMALLEY VACUUM TUBE LAMP SUPPORT Filed May. 1, 1926 avwemtoz ROBERT C SMALLEYv @331 um/mugs Patented Aug. 25, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE ROBERT c. SMALLEY, E ARLINGTON, NEW JERSEY, ASS1IGNOR 'ro CLAUDE NEON LIGHTS, 1110., on NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK VACUUM TUBE LAM]? SUPPORT Application filed May 1,

This invention relates to apparatus, for supporting vacuum tube lamps of the type exemplified by the well known neon lights commonly used in advertising signs and the like. Such lamps as is well known usually consist of a relatively long section of glass tubing evacuated and supplied with gas at 7 low pressure and sealed. The tubing is frequently bent into the shape of letters, and 10 as a result the lamps are somewhat fragile.

Since they are used for outdoor advertising to a great extent, and are frequently mounted in inaccessible positions, and exposed to the weather, they must be supported in a manner which will hold them firml in position, but at thesame time cushion t iem against shocks and prevent them from being subjected tostrain, as far as possible.

It is an object of this invention to provide apparatus for supporting lamps of the class described, yieldingly but firmly; in other words, to support a lamp firmly and permanently, but in such a manner that the lamp may move or shift slightly with reference to the frame or body from which it is. supported.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide apparatusby which a lamp may be supported at a number of points, in a yiel ing and shock-absorbing manner.

It is still a further object of my invention to provide a new and improved support for lamps of the class descri ed.

Still other objects will be apparent from the specification.

The features of novelty which I believe to be characteristicof my invention are pointed out with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its underlying principles and as to its particular embodiments, will best be understood by reference to the specification and accompanying drawing, inwhich the single figure is a view partly in section and partly broken away, of a lamp supported in accor ance with my invention.

In accordance wi h y invention I provide a spacing member arran ed to maintain the lampout of contact wit the base to which it is to be attached and for the u ose of cushioning the lamp against sh prefer a 1926. Serial No. 105,895.

to make this spacing member resilient, such for example as a spring. The spring rides with one end against the tube and with its other end against the base to which the tube after it has been secured in position, to place.

itself in a(position of equilibrium under unusual -con itions, thereby avoiding strains which might tend to fracture the lamp tube.

Referring now to the single fi re of the drawing, 1 represents the lam tu e of transparent material such as glass aving a space 2 therein which is occupied by gas under low pressure. The lamp tube 1 is provided with a sleeve 3 attached thereto. The sleeve 3 will preferably be of glass and will be formed upon the tube prior to the evacuation thereof in any suitable way as for example by welding. A spring. 5 is provided adapted to maintain the lamp tube lout of contact with the base 6 and while the spring may be allowed to rest directly on the lass of the lamp tube 1 I prefer to interpose etween the end of the spring and the glass 1 a plug of insulating material 4 of any suitable kind, to minimize the possibility of excessive dielectric strain being set up in the lamp envelope 1- at the point where the spring would otherwise make contact therewith. I also provide a flexible tension means such as tie wire 7 which may be taken one or more times around the tube it is resiliently and yieldingly held in a desired position and cushioned against shocks. It is able to shift its position more or less with reference to the base as a result of the sliding of the lower end of the spring 5 upon the base and the play which will in any event be present in the tie wires 7, whereby it will not be subjected to strains which would otherwise be set up by deformation of the base 6.

While I have shown and described certain preferred forms of my invention it will be understood that modifications and changes may be made as will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. A support for attaching lamps of the class described to a base comprising a sleeve forming part of said lamp, a spring retained in position by the sleeve for maintaining said lamp out of contact with said base, and means for securing said lamp against said spring.

2. A support for attaching lamps of the class described to a base, comprising a sleeve attached to said lamp, a resilient spacing member mounted in said sleeve and projecting beyond the sleeve end to engage the base for maintaining said lamp out of contact with said base and means engaging the lamp and secured to the base for securing said lamp against the pressure of said spacing element.

3. A support for attaching lamps of the class described to a base comprising a spring spacing element for receiving and maintaining said lamp out of contact with said base, and tending to force the lamp away from the base and a flexible wire en aging said lamp and secured to the base or securing said lamp against said spacin element.

4. A support for attac 'ng lamps of the class described to a base comprising a metallic resilient spacing element having one end engaging said lamp and the other end being in contact with the base for maintaining said lamp out of contact with said base, and a wire engaging the lamp and secured to said base for securing said lamp against said ipacing element.

5. support for attaching lamps of the class described to a base comprising a spacing element including a coiled spring supported by and extending beyond the end of the spacing element for maintainin said lamp out of contact with said base, an flexible means engaging said lamp and secured to the base for securing said lamp against said spacing element.

6. A support for attaching lamps of the class described to a base, comprising a sleeve attached to said lamp, a resilient spacing member mounted in said sleeve and projecting beyond the sleeve and to engage the base for maintaining said lamp out of contact with said base, and flexible means engaging the lamp and secured to the base for securing said lamp against the pressure of said spacing element. a

A support for attaching lamps of the class described to a base, comprising a sleeve attached to said lamp, a spring positioned in said sleeve and having its ends free, one end of said spring projecting out of said sleeve for contact with the base and flexible means engaging said tube and secured to said base for maintaining said tube in contact with said spring to keep the same under compression.

8. A support for attaching lamps of the class described to a base, comprising a sleeve atta shed to said lamp, a plu of insulating material disposed within sai sleeve, and a spring positioned within said sleeve and having its ends free, one end of said spring projecting out of said sleeve for contact with the base and flexible means engaging said tube and secured to said base for maintaining said tube in contact with said spring to keep the same under compression.

In testimonywhereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of A ril, 1926.

' ROBERT C. MALLEY. 

